Two hospitalised in Doncaster family’s ‘holiday from hell’

A dream which turned into a holiday from hell and left two family members on a drip is being investigated by a law firm.

Upset holidaymaker Louise McNeill, from Doncaster, and her partner’s son both ended up in hospital after their holiday was ruined by an outbreak of gastric illness. Now lawyers have stepped in to demand answers about the break at the four-star Coral Sea Water World in Egypt – where it has been reported that more than 100 holidaymakers who have stayed at the resort could have been struck down by illness in recent months.

Louise, 39, who works as a sales advisor, said: “We had been looking forward to the holiday for months as it was out first trip all together and we wanted it to be perfect.

“Both me and the boys suffered gastric symptoms. It was absolutely horrendous. I’m still having symptoms even now.”

“I have been abroad on many occasions over the years but this was the worst holiday ever – it really was a holiday from hell.

Louise travelled to the resort in Sharm el Sheikh with her partner Paul Warren, son Jamie, 13, and Paul’s son Joel, also 13, on 17 July this year, for what they hoped would be a relaxing two-week family holiday.

But after Louise and the two boys fell ill with symptoms including, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, sickness, fever and lethargy, that became so bad for Louise and Jamie they were placed on a drip, the family say it turned into a nightmare.

The family from Doncaster have now instructed specialist illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell.

The family left the hotel just days before it was reported last month that scores of holidaymakers could have been struck down with illness at the resort.

Clare Comiskey, a specialist in the international personal injury team at Irwin Mitchell, said: “We are deeply concerned by the reports of a large illness outbreak at the hotel.

“The family’s holiday was ruined by gastric illness and we hope that Thomson Holidays will now work with us quickly and amicably to assist us to ascertain what caused their symptoms so the family can move on.”

Louise said: “Food was on occasions undercooked and sometimes not served at the correct temperature. Some of the food was sometimes left uncovered during the sittings which meant the flies could land on it.

“We would like answers about what caused us to become ill.”

A spokesman said: “First Choice is aware of a small number of cases of sickness at the Coral Sea Water World, Egypt earlier this summer, with symptoms similar to a virus.